Cystic
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People with cystic fibrosis (CF) often live a life that revolves around their affliction. At Swetech Medical Center, we strive to help you thrive, no matter your limitations, and work to make your day-to-day life easier with treatments that are appropriate for your goals and needs. We focus on you as a patient and not just your illness.
Understanding Cystic
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited, terminal illness that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. There are cells in the body that are responsible for producing thin and slippery mucus, sweat, and digestive juices to help them act as lubricants. A person with cystic fibrosis has a defective gene that instead causes these secretions to become sticky and thick, which means ducts and tubes of the body will become clogged, especially in the lungs and pancreas.
People who suffer from cystic fibrosis have a limited life expectancy, usually only living until their 30s or 40s. But with improvements in screening for this progressive disease and targeted osteopathic treatments, it is possible to live into your 50s and enjoy a happy, full life that is not entirely focused on or stunted by CF.
Complications of
Every doctor’s goal is to treat their CF patients so they will be as comfortable and healthy as possible. Cystic fibrosis complications mainly affect the respiratory system, digestive system, and reproductive system, but can also target other organs. Mental health takes a toll too – living with a chronic, incurable illness is taxing, to say the least.
- Respiratory system complications can include damaged airways, chronic sinus infections, chronic bronchitis, chronic pneumonia, nasal polyps, pneumothorax, coughing up blood, and respiratory failure.
- Digestive system complications can include nutritional deficiencies because digestive enzymes are blocked from moving from the pancreas to the intestines. Side effects of this problem can lead to telltale signs of CF, like delayed growth and weight loss. Diabetes, liver disease, and intestinal blockages are also major complications of the digestive system.
- Both men and women with CF have reproductive system complications. Almost all men with CF are infertile because the bas deferens tube that connects the testes and the prostate gland is usually blocked or absent. Women with CF are typically less fertile than other women, but it is possible for them to conceive and have successful pregnancies, though carrying a child comes with increased CF complications.
- Someone with CF – or who has CF in their family – can pass the CF gene mutation on to their child. Children need to inherit one copy of the gene from both parents to develop the disease. If they only inherit a copy from one parent, they will not develop cystic fibrosis but will be carriers and could pass the gene onto their own children.
Get Osteopathic Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis in Clinton
CF demands daily care but people who have CF can usually go to school and maintain a job. Children with cystic fibrosis often find themselves in the hospital doing a great number of treatments to curb the side effects of this illness. Once you reach adulthood, however, patience for medical care wanes and you want to focus on your life goals while you have that life to live.
Doctors of osteopathy are different because we make your priorities our priorities. When you have CF, we know you are fully aware of your limitations but that this diagnosis is not going to stop you from trying to accomplish your goals. We tailor our treatment plans to help you achieve the quality of life that you want.
We want to help you and heal you – and, yes, we will be focused on your pulmonary function – but we also do our best to look at your whole life and provide the care you need physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our philosophy as practitioners of osteopathy is to treat your body, mind, and spirit.
Contact Swetech Medical Center in Clinton Township, Michigan today to discuss cystic fibrosis.
